Stria-finished tile.



W. P. MBEKER.

STRIA FINISHED TILE.

APPLIGATIQN FILED-FEB. 19, 1904.

F I Awa/M W @51 m A PATENTED OCT. 3; 1905.

ILLIAM PASSMORE MEEKER, ()F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

-STRlA-FINISHED TILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed Oct. 3, 1905.

Applic tion filed February 19, 1904 Serial 910.19%338.

To (1 7 whom it Hwy concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Passuonn MEEKER. a citizen of the United States, re-' siding at Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Striee-Finished Tiles, of which the following is a specification.

Hy invention relates to tiles which are composed of a vitreous substance, and particularly to such tiles as are adapted for use in constructing tile-faced surfaces, and my improvements are directed to producing upon the tile a beautiful and ornamental surface. In tiles as heretofore made both glassy or glazed surfaces and dull or dead surfaces have been employed; but my improved tiles belong to neither of these classes, and I will now proceed to point out the novel features in my tiles, referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of a tile, illustrating my improved surface; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view, on a greatly-enlarged scale, of a part of a tile.

In both of the figures I have used the same letters of reference to designate similar parts.

The body of the tile A is composed of a vitreous substanceformed into the shape of the tile while in a melted state, and the surface or face of the tile is striated with fine curved ridges 7) 6. These striae 6 Z) are so fine that there may be several hundred or more, or even thousands, to the inch, and they are disposed in graceful and varying sweeps, loops, and curves.

The surfaces of the striae Z) 6 are slightly roughened or indented, as indicated by the stippling in Fig. 2, and they do not, therefore, individually present a perfectly smooth and glazed appearance. The surface thus formed will both reflect and refract the light which falls upon it, the varying curves, thicknesses, and inclinations of the striae producing a peculiarand beautiful effect, with changing iridescent pearlish and opalescent lines in an almost infinite variety of changing patterns and effect. The peculiar beauty of these tiles lies in the soft lights and colors reflected and refracted from their surfaces, which constantly play and change with the slightest change of position by the observer. The finish also being integral with the tile is durable, not liable to chi-p off, as in the case of glazes, not absorbent, like a ground or sanded (and hence slightly-fractured) surface, and the striae being so minute the surface has an almost velvety depth and softness of appearance.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A tile, of vitreous material havinga surface finish formed of minute and slightlyroughened strize.

2. A tile, composed of vitreous material, and havinga surface finish formed by minute, curved, and slightly-roughened striae.

WM. PASSMORE MEEKER.

Witnesses:

TM. D. NEILLEY, WILLIAM H. Moan. 

